Jake Cole. Image courtesy of Plymouth Argyle FC

Cole the hero as Argyle win thrilling cup tie after penalty shoot-out

Cheltenham Town 3

Gillespie 6, 61 (pen) Taylor 68

Plymouth Argyle 3

Boco 16 Alessandra 17 Bencherif 57

(Plymouth won 5-4 on penalties)

Plymouth Argyle will be in the draw for the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after beating Cheltenham in a penalty shoot-out in a thrilling cup tie.

Pilgrims' goalkeeper Jake Cole became the hero as he saved Cheltenham's fifth penalty kick taken by Terry Gornell, before Marvin Morgan converted to send the Greens through.

John Sheridan gave debuts to new signings Jamie Reckord and Hamza Bencherif among five changes to the team (the maximum allowed under the competition rules).

A pulsating game had seen the Robins take a sixth minute lead with a well-taken goal by Steven Gillespie.

A brilliant Rommy Boco lob over goalkeeper Scott Brown levelled things for Argyle ten minutes later and they took the lead less than a minute afterwards through Lewis Alessandra.

After half-time, the game saw counter attack after counter attack, before Argyle earned a two-goal cushion when Bencherif headed home from Conor Hourihane’s free-kick. A repeat of their 3-1 league victory a fortnight ago looked on the cards, but the game had more twists and turns in store.

Just before the hour mark, Curtis Nelson was adjudged to have fouled Gillespie, preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity. Referee Mark Heywood gave Cheltenham a penalty and sent off Nelson. Gillespie scored from a rebound, after Cole had saved from the spot, to make it 3-2. Suddenly Cheltenham sensed it was game on.

Jason Taylor's scrappy shot found its way through Argyle's rearguard to level the scores after 68 minutes and only a brilliant save by Cole from Byron Harrison denied Cheltenham a winner in normal time. How crucial that proved; prescient too as Cole produced further heroics with the only save in that tight, tense penalty denouement.